Pickleball Stacking: Winning Strategy or Mass Confusion?

Jeff

I wrote about Pickleball stacking here, but the Pickleball Guru has much more to say about it on his website. Some players might find this advantageous while others will certainly view it skeptically. The fact that the 2014 Tournament Rules were revised to accommodate those who want to use this strategy might give some indication that it is not for everyone.

NOTE: In explaining the advantages and disadvantages of stacking, the article below uses no less than a dozen diagrams; get the idea?!

Find out in more detail exactly what it is and whether or not this might be something that would help your doubles play. Click the link below to learn more:

Everything You Ever Wanted to Know About Stacking (a.k.a. That Weird Switch-a-Roo Thing Some Teams Do…)

STATUS QUOtes — 20150305

Jeff

“If you’re helping someone and expecting something in return, you’re doing business not kindness.” — Unknown

“Happiness is not something ready-made. It comes from your own actions.” — Dalai Lama

“There is no better test of a person’s integrity than their behavior when they are wrong.[ed]” — Marvin Williams

“I have nothing to say, and I’ll only say it once.” — Floyd Smith, Hockey coach

STATUS QUOtes — 20150304

Jeff

“Adopt the pace of nature: her secret is patience.” — Ralph Waldo Emerson

“The most powerful weapon on earth is the human soul on fire.” — Ferdinand Foch

“Without deviation from the norm, progress is not possible.” — Frank Zappa

“There’s no half-singing in the shower, you’re either a rock star or an opera diva.” — Josh Groban

iPhone 6 Makes Picture Taking a Snap!

Jeff

Apple has set up what they are calling a “World Gallery” of photographs taken using the iPhone 6. The wonderful picture capabilities of the iPhones have been touted for a number of years and with each iteration, Apple seems to be able to raise the bar even higher. To demonstrate how versatile and creative the iPhone 6 can be, this page titled “Shot on iPhone 6” provides a great number of examples. I selected five of my favorites below. Visit the website to see more images in their larger sizes.

NOTE – Some of the pictures were taken with Apps other than the Apple Camera App. This information is noted under the pictures on display at the linked website.


Let me know which images you find most compelling, beautiful or interesting.

Shot by Andrew P. in Phoenix, AZ

This desert shot takes full advantage of the warm reds and oranges of sunset, capturing a beautiful range of tones with a limited color palette.

Since I live in this area, this picture caught my eye. I have taken similar pictures with my camera. One thing I try to impress upon visitors and people who live out-of-state is the wonderful colors the sun creates at various times of the day in the Sonoran Desert.

Sonoran Desert Scene - iPhone6

Shot by Brendan Ó. in Copenhagen, Denmark

Shooting from an unexpected angle can add an interesting twist. Here, it creates contours in the lines that convey a sense of movement to the viewer.

I found the lines on this pavement particularly interesting. I wonder if these are bicycle lanes or do these markings serve some other purpose? Are these lines curvy for artistic reasons or do the shapes provide a necessary shift?

Street/Park Scene, Copenhagen Denmark - iPhone6

Shot by Hyeong Jun K. in Seoul, South Korea
The exaggerated scale of a shadow, like the one cast by the tree, can add an element of interest to a stark landscape.

I am a sucker for trees especially when they are standing alone. While there are others around, the isolation of the main tree feels palpable to me.

Lonesome Tree - iPhone6

Shot by Noah W. in Marina Del Rey, CA

Use naturally occurring shadows to your advantage. In this photo, the solid silhouette of the dog interrupts the stripes cast across the sidewalk.

I enjoy a good animal picture and this is no exception. In addition to the notation above, this photograph would have been so ordinary without the shadows. The dog almost looks zebra-ish and much more interesting with the shadowed lines.

Dog Marked by Linear Shadows - iPhone6

Shot by Austin M. in Steamboat Springs, CO

Photos featuring just one color family can be brought to life with a subtle hint of a contrasting color. Here, the pop of blue in the sky adds a surprising element.

I love the subtle colors in this photo as noted above. While this is a very good photo, IMHO it would have been even better had the ski lift (upper right) been cropped out. In any event, the feeling evoked by this snow scene is “cool” indeed!

On the Slopes - iPhone6

STATUS QUOtes — 20150303

Jeff

“Don’t be a bird in search of a cage.” — Seth Godin

“When you’re in a Slump,
you’re not in for much fun.
Un-slumping yourself
is not easily done.”
— Dr. Seuss, Oh, The Places You’ll Go!

“It’s not what you do once in a while; it’s what you do day in and day out that makes the difference.” — Jenny Craig

“Any philosophy that can be put in a nutshell belongs there.” — Sydney J. Harris

A Pickleball Thought -The Net Is Not Your Friend!

Jeff

On the surface Pickleball seems like a fairly simple sport, but don’t be fooled! Pickleball’s basic elements are simple, but it is far from a “simple sport.”

Almost every skill needed to excel in other racket/paddle sports is needed in Pickleball. When you take into account the non volley zone and the fact that the ball can go around the net and still be a valid winning shot (if it lands appropriately in the opponent’s court), one might be able to argue that it is even a bit more complex, but let’s not go there.

I am a relative beginner when it comes to Pickleball having played for just under one year. I hadn’t played a racket sport in nearly forty years before I discovered Pickleball fun! So take this as it is, i.e. from a beginner’s point of view.

Over the year, I have learned a lot. I have made many mistakes, but I have tried to learn from those errors. One thing that I have come to appreciate is that the Pickleball net is not on your side. It is not your friend.

What I mean by that statement is this. I often see players watch the ball as it heads for the top of the Pickleball net and on both sides, play seems to slow or stop. So what is wrong with this picture? The problem is that the ball is going to end up on one side of the net or the other and it might remain playable.

Both sides need to be ready to react. Continue to play the ball as though it is going to be a valid shot in the event that it does make it over the net. Don’t give up on the play!

If you are prepared, you might be able to salvage one or two points in a given game just by being able to return a ball that sneaks its way over the net and remains “playable.”

I have lost a number of games by just one or two points that have escaped my team in this fashion. If I had only been ready to respond as the ball fell just on “our” side of the net, I may have salvaged that one more point.

Watch the better players and notice that even when a ball hits the net, they are in line with the ball, paddle in hitting position and waiting to respond.

Don’t give up on the play. Continue the play until the ball is “dead.”

STATUS QUOtes — 20150302

Jeff

“Weeds are flowers too, once you get to know them.” — A.A. Milne

“Some people stay longer in an hour than others do in a month.”” — William Dean Howells

“You have a gift of 86,400 seconds today. Have you used one to say ‘thank you? [ed]” — William A. Ward

“Life is a combination of magic and pasta.” — Federico Fellini

Artists Create Street Side Illusions for Your Enjoyment

Jeff

For lack of a better term, I will refer to the picture below as illusional art; perhaps even Trompe-l’œil although I don’t think it quite meets that standard, but I’ll let you decide.

I enjoy seeing how artists can visualize art work using what is available and creating such interesting illusions. If you enjoy this type of art as well, I encourage you to visit the linked website to see other examples. Being a cat lover, I like that one as well.

Via Stencil Works of Street Artist JPS